The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is to scale back operations further as it copes with higher than expected staff losses, triggered by the watchdog's forced relocation from London to Amsterdam because of Brexit.

Dutch officials and the head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) sought yesterday (29 January) to allay any jitters among the agency's 900 London-based staff who are being asked to move to Amsterdam because of Britain's departure from the EU.

Amsterdam and Paris won the right to host the two EU agencies that must leave London on Brexit after a dramatic ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday (20 November) that left both result decided by drawing lots after votes were tied.